I was recently at a ‘style workshop’ and had been volunteered as one of the models to be 'made up' in front of an audience of business women – the goal was for me to be prepared (hair, makeup, clothes...) for a photographer to take some professional photos of me. I don’t consider myself very ‘stylish’ so it was a real treat!

The presenter discussed having professional photos taken and the process of getting ready for them. She then added that with the wonders of photoshop, anything that wasn’t perfect could be fixed up. Until that moment, I hadn't ever considered photoshopping my own image. It was something that was done to celebrities and models. As I sat on the stage and looked at my image in the mirror, I suddenly saw the bags under the eyes, the crooked eyebrow... Hmmmm.

The high-profile presenter was 50-ish, but joked that with the wonders of photoshop, she hadn’t really aged in the past 10 years and acknowledged that her publicity photos are a far cry from herself in ‘real life’. It got me thinking.

Why does a highly successful business woman, widely touted as an inspiration to women all over the country, and indeed a business mentor to many women herself, need her publicity photos to be photoshopped? She is a beautiful woman in her own right - lovely skin, slim, radiant and a very funky hairstyle.

Do her male equivalents also have photoshopped images?

Does having a photoshopped image, that takes at least 10 years off her real age, contribute to her success? Would her success be affected if she had a ‘real’ photo?

Is it now widely accepted that professional photos are photoshopped?

I am still pondering these questions. I would love to hear your thoughts.Do you have your image photoshopped? Why or why not?

(PS: I have not ever had photos of me digitally altered. The main photo on my homepage is me complete with my smile-lines, forehead-creases and spots. But these are what make me, me. I have a red spot above my left eye which appeared in the first month of my pregnancy with my son (which resembles a pimple permanently threatening to break out... charming). It bugged me at first and I was assured it was hormonal and would disappear after the birth. Three years on, it has shown no sign of departing: but I like it. It is another mark on the journey of my life.)

Oooohh nice topic Rach. We have a new friend in New York who is a professional photographer, and who often does school + individual photos. The big news for me was that ALL school photos that he takes he photoshops, and very nearly all of the photos he takes he photoshops (he only doesn't if there's a specific request for the photo not to be adjusted and this is a very rare event)! Wow - school photos photoshopped huh? No more snotty noses and stained T-shirts in the states, it made me wonder about our NZ school photos?!

Amber that is incredible, just insane - photoshopped school photos???!! What an awful message to be sending to children, so so sad. Good question - I am going to start asking round re. whether it happens in NZ school photos also.